Despite cold, wind, people turn out for Cystic Fibrosis walk

Dozens bundled up Saturday, facing a chilling wind and a cold snap, as they took to a 5k jaunt around the Cerro Coso College track field.

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By Jack BarnwellCITY EDITORjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Jack BarnwellCITY EDITORjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Dec. 10, 2013 at 11:45 AM

By Jack BarnwellCITY EDITORjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Dec. 10, 2013 at 11:45 AM

Dozens bundled up Saturday, facing a chilling wind and a cold snap, as they took to a 5k jaunt around the Cerro Coso College track field.

All walkers and joggers were warmed by both constant movement and a good cause as they walked during the seventh annual Ridgecrest Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk.

Participants ranged from young to old, with students from the area's schools and from various walks of life taking part.

The Great Strides Walk cements a year of fundraising by the Ridgecrest Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis, coordinated by Eric and Julie Frisbee.

The cause is to raise awareness about cystic fibrosis, and to raise money for finding a cure. Cystic fibrosis is a condition that affects the lungs and other organs by creating a thick, sticky mucus to accumulate, making it difficult to breathe and digest food. It's a condition that those affected with are born with.

More than 1,900 mutations of the disease exist. With modern technology and treatments, often funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the average lifespan of CF patients has gone from early elementary school age, to more than 37 years. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved Kalydeco, a drug that helps treat cystic fibrosis for a small segment of the CF community.

Frisbee said on Saturday that the event went really well.

"We had a bunch of hardy souls come out to bear the wind and cold," Frisbee said. He added that the event had approximately 185 participants, "the most people" the event has ever seen turn out Frisbee said that the town was very supportive of the event, including various schools.

"The high school kids and organizations were a big part of it this year, as well as all the other kids in the school district and at St. Ann's School," Frisbee said.

Frisbee started organizing the Ridgecrest event in 2007 ago when he and his wife Julie found out their daughters Taylor and Isabella were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

"We met the president of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which is a main driver in finding a cure for this disease, and we asked him what we could do to help," Frisbee said. Frisbee said the response was to start a Great Strides movement in Ridgecrest.

"Since then it's continued to gain support, gain in numbers, and more people are getting involved," Frisbee said. "This is a great community." Since 2007, the community has raised more than $240,000 in an effort to find a cure for what is described as a life-threatening disease.

According to Tina Frisbee, Eric's mother, on Monday, Ridgecrest Great Strides has raised at least $30,000 for 2013. She added that Great Strides will continue to accept donations through the end of the year. Donations can be made online at www.ridgecrestgreatstrides.org. , or they may be mailed to Tina Frisbee, 807 W. Howell Ave., Ridgecrest, CA 93555.

Frisbee said that classes and student organizations in the city have been extremely helpful as well, especially through the "Change for Cure" initiative.

Over the course of the school year, students from St. Ann's School, Pierce Elementary, Las Flores Elementary, Gateway Elementary, James Monroe and Murray middle schools and Burroughs High School have helped raise funds for the cause.

Bev Ewbank, an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher from Monroe Middle School, said it was her class's first time participating in this event.

"It was a great opportunity to give back to the community, and wonderful to see all the AVID kids supporting a good cause," Ewbank said. "I think it's good for students to see that giving back to the community really does help, especially for a cause like curing cystic fibrosis."

In addition to the 5k walk on Cerro Coso's track, the Over the Hill Track Club held its own Fun Run event in the hills above Cerro Coso College. The fun run corresponded with, yet separate from, the CF Great Strides event.

The event was described by Frisbee as something the Over the Hill Track Club held to support the Great Strides event, free for everyone to participate.

According to OTHTC members, 28 people participated in the Fun Run through the hills. In addition the OTHTC donated $720 from their recent "Turkey Trot."

With two organizers cheering them on, people crossed the finish line within 30 minutes of beginning.

Maryah Marcano, a Burroughs High School junior and cross country athlete, hit the finish line first with a time of 25 minutes, 53 seconds. Burroughs cross country coach Anthony Barnes came in 18 seconds later with a time of 26 minutes, 11 seconds.

"I didn't notice the weather other than during the first part of the run," Marcano said. "The first part was really cold, but once you got into the hills, all the cold weather was blocked."

Marcano said that she might participate in a similar event next year.

"It's fun and it helps out a whole lot of people," she said.

For more information or to donate, people can visit www.ridgecrestgreatstrides.org.